Gardai warn public as specific cars targeted by thieves in Limerick

GARDAI have warned Limerick motorists after a spate of break ins targeting specific cars. 

On Thursday, August 3, a thief made an effort to steal a red Toyota Vitz hatchback from Mungret Street in Limerick city between 12pm and 9:30pm. 

The thief smashed the driver’s side window and got into the car and then tried to start the car by interfering with the ignition barrel.

Fortunately, they were unable to get the car started. There is no description of the thief. 

A similar incident happened the next day when a thief broke a rear passenger window of a silver Toyota Aqua hatchback at 6pm on High Street. 

Fortunately, the thief did not succeed in this endeavour.

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The thief was described as approximately 5ft 8inches. He was wearing a distinctive dark blue tracksuit with a hood that was pulled up. He had his face covered.

There was slow moving traffic on the street at the time as well as pedestrians. Gardai at Henry Street are investigating and can be contacted on 061 212400.

Garda John Finnerty from Henry St garda station said: "We would like to remind people that thieves are currently targeting
second hand Japanese imports as unlike in the EU Japanese cars are not required to fit an immobiliser.

"An immobiliser is an additional security devise on a car that prevents it from starting unless the correct key or key fob is used.

"Thieves specifically target Mazda Demio models, the Toyota Aqua model and the Toyota Vitz models."